Kiladangan edge into O Riain quarter finals

Kiladangan 0-15

Carrick Swan 0-15

Report: Liam Hogan at The Ragg

Shane Gleeson’s equalising free in the ninth minute of added time gave Kiladangan a share of the spoils and more importantly a place in the last eight of the Seamus O Riain Cup following a tense clash with Carrick Swan on Saturday which saw both sides finish with fourteen men.

With both teams tied on two points each in the table it was all or nothing for either team to reach the quarter finals, although a draw would suit Kiladangan as they had the slightly better point difference.

With the return of Ruairi Gleeson, Johnny Horan and Matthew Cleary, the Kiladangan team had a full complement and it was a great display by Gleeson that helped the side get through with a good hours work at centre back.

Martin Minehan proved a worthy full back while Conor Culhane and Darragh Ryan did a lot to help the cause. Eoin Kelly was Kiladangan’s best working forward.

Colin Peters, Billy Murphy and Eric O’Hanlon stood out for Carrick but Kiladangan were first to score when Shane Gleeson had two pointed frees by the sixth minute before Danny O’Hanlon had Carrick Swans account activated a minute later.

Darragh Egan’s quick and accurate puckout found an unmarked Ruairi Gleeson who picked off a fine point and with O’Hanlon and Gleeson swapping frees leaving the impressive Eric O’Halloran fired over a brace to make it 0-4 each by the water break.

Johnny Horan’s well-taken point had Kiladangan in front again but Jack Murphy levelled in the 16th minute. Two minutes later Kiladangan had a let-off when Danny O’Hanlon’s penalty whizzed low past Darragh Egan’s post.

From there the standard dropped with both sides finding the target a trifle difficult but the final minutes of the half stood well to Kiladangan who extended their lead to three after Shane Gleeson pointed two frees either side of a well-taken Ronan Ducie score to make it 0-8 to 0-5 at half time.

Carrick Swan began the second half with more urgency with Billy Murphy and Cory Ryan on target. Kiladangan responded with Shane Gleeson pointing a 65 before Carrick Swan relied on points by Danny O’Hanlon (free) and Aidan Waters from play to make it 0-9 each.

Approaching the 40th minute the game came to a halt when referee David Ryan had to consult with his linesman before red carding Carrick Swan’s Jack Murphy following an off-the-ball incident.

Seconds later a mild scuffle broke out in the Carrick half of the field and after consultation with his umpires the referee sent Kiladangan’s Paul Seymour to the line; a rather harsh decision.

When play resumed the Kiladangan goal had a lucky escape when Aidan Waters was hauled down inside the twenty metre line and Danny O’Hanlon’s free had Swan in front for the first time.

Darragh Egan’s accurate puckout reached the hard-working Eoin Kelly who scored and in the 47th minute Shane Gleeson made amends for some missed opportunities when giving Kiladangan the lead with a free.

Back came Kiladangan when Ruairi Gleeson’s attempt for a long range point came back of the upright. Carrick cleared the danger and with play reaching the other end they had O’Hanlon levelling matters with a free seven minutes from time.

Three minutes later, Darragh Egan had Kiladangan in front when pointing a ninety metre free and a minute later the Northmen must have sensed victory when Johnny Horan increased their lead with a well-taken sideline ball.

Carrick substitute Dean Walsh cut the margin to one before Kiladangan regained their two-point advantage after substitute Eoin Meagher was fouled and Shane Gleeson did the rest.

By now, the game was deep into added time but Carrick Swan would not relent and after points by Aaron Dunne plus a Danny O’Hanlon free they were back in front.

But it was not to be as man of the match Ruairi Gleeson led one final Kiladangan foray before winning a free on the Carrick sixty-five metre line. Some dissent followed and the free was moved twenty metres closer a position no bother to Shane Gleeson with the equaliser sending Kiladangan through to the quarter finals.

Player of the Match: Ruairi Gleeson (Kiladangan)

Kiladangan: Darragh Egan (0-1f, 7); Darragh Ryan (7), Martin Minehan (7), Conor Culhane (8); Darragh Butler (6), Ruairi Gleeson (0-1, 8), Ronan Ducie (0-1, 7); John O’Meara (7), Johnny Horan (0-2, 1 s-cut) 6); Ciaran Kelly (6), Eoin Kelly (0-1, 8), Matthew Cleary (6); Shane Gleeson (0-9, 8f, 1 ’65) 6), Paul Seymour (6), Conor Byrne (6).

Subs: Eoin Meagher (7) for Byrne (46); Stephen James Gleeson (6) for E Kelly (51); D J McGrath (NR) for Horan (60).

Carrick Swan: Kieran Lonergan (7); Gerry Walsh (7), Scott Hogan (7), Daniel Walsh (7); Colin Waters (8), Stephen Hahessy (7), Dale O’Hanlon (7); Eric O’Hanlon (0-2, 8), Billy Murphy (0-2, 8); Cory Ryan (0-1, 7), Jack Connolly (0-1, 6), Danny O’Hanlon (0-5f, 7); Aidan Waters (0-1, 7), Damien McCarthy (0-1, 6), Jamie Holloway (6).

Sub: Dean Walsh (0-1, 6) for J Connolly (54).

Referee: David Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs).